Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce believes Chelsea "will be there or thereabouts" when challenging for the Premier League title this season ahead of Saturday lunchtime's clash between the two clubs.
Chelsea will travel to St James' Park tomorrow seeking a third successive Premier League victory, knowing another three-point haul would lift them to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Leicester City, who are not in action until Sunday evening when they lock horns with Liverpool at Anfield.
Should Frank Lampard's side secure another victory, it would offer encouragement to the club's supporters and hierarchy that a genuine title push can be maintained after a busy summer transfer window, which saw the Stamford Bridge outfit splash out more than £220million on new faces.
Whilst it has taken the Blues time to mould all of their new signings into a working unit, the recent signs have been promising, with Bruce admitting that he can see the west London outfit making a genuine title assault.
"They have bought exceptionally good players, and that makes life a little bit easier if you are Chelsea I suppose," Bruce told ChronicleLive.
"Of course, you have to find the right balance and they certainly seem to have got that.
"They look a very good side.
"I believe personally they will be there or thereabout with the changes they have made."
After finishing a respectable fourth last season in Lampard's first season at the helm, any improvement upon that would be a step in the right direction for the Blues as they look to try and consolidate themselves as genuine title challengers once again.
And for Bruce, who was appointed Newcastle boss in July 2019 following Rafael Benitez's departure, it is a real pleasure to see a young, British manager thriving.
"When you see people like Frank and Steven Gerrard up at Rangers too, he comes to mind, I am delighted there is new blood who are doing their best," Bruce added. "I went into the most difficult role of all, player-manager.
"That is even more difficult when you aren't the best player, I was 39 and not the best player and Dean Saunders reminded me I wasn't the best player.
"How does that transition work? I made it after eight games that I couldn't combine the two, it was ridiculous.
"When you are Lampard or Gerrard, your first team talk or dealing with the players who don't play for example is tough.
"Tomorrow I will pick 11 who will be as happy as can be, the other 13 or 14 will be upset and disappointed and knocking on my door all week.
"That is what management is about."
